
^CAVY 

Our Fancy Guinea Pig 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



THE OAA^Y 

OUR l^^AISCY GUINEA PIG 



"WrilleTi by 
J. HENRI WAGNER, 

'Presidtsit American Fur Fanciers Association of America." 
Washijigtan, D. C, 



Putlished by 

PET STOCK WORLD COMPANY, 

Baltimore, Md. 

Coi)yriKlit, by August M. Roth, 1915. 



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'C(.A410668 



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Introduction. 

In offering to the pet stock world this l)Ooklet on "The 
Cavy. Our Fancy Guinea Pig," I do not wish it to be con- 
sidered as covering every phase of the cavy fancy. This 
would be an impossibility. It is. however, different from 
anything heretofore published. Some of the books now on 
the market lack many of the essentials which go to educate 
the novice along the lines so necessary in the production 
of a successful exhibition cavy; while others contain a 
profusion of irrelevancy which the present day business 
man has no time to read. I have endeavored to present, 
with such simplicity that a child may readily understand, 
the most important cares in connection with the rearing of 
this interesting pet, and I trust the infornxation contained 
herein may be of as much benetit to the young fancier as 
it has been mj- pleasure to impart. 

J. HENRI WAGNER. 



THE CA^^Y 



OUR WA.NCY GUINEA PIG 



Habitat — Description. 

The cavy, or guinea pig, iis it is commonly known, is the 
name applied to several South American rodent animals 
included in the *"ca\ idae" familw but naturalists apply it. 
perhaps more properly, to the genus "cavia." 

The cavy, in its wild state, is distributed over an exten- 
sive area of South Americ:i and is represented by several 
species: the more common being- the aperea or cobaya 
(restless cavy) of Brazil; the Bolivian cavy, boliviensis, 
found at great elevations in the Andes Mountains; the Bra- 
zilian rock-cavy, cavia rupestris, characterized by its short 
blunt claws, and the Peruvian cavia cutleri, which is sup- 
l)osed to hav^e been tamed by the Incas. the reigning aristo- 
cratic and priestly caste of Ancient Peru, between 1240 
and 1523. This theory seems quite plausible wdien we con- 
sider the marvelous development of the Llama which is 
accredited to the Incas. who regarded this animal as royal 
property, and almost as sacred as to India its white 
elephant. 

The early history of the cavy is so veiled in m3'stery that 
it is questionable whether our common guinea pig de- 
scended from the specie known as cavia porcellus or cavia 
aperea of Brazil, the cavia cobaya, or the Pcru\ian cavia 
cutleri. Its introduction into Europe after the cc^nquest of 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



Peru by the Spaniards warrants the conclusion that it must 
have been the pet of the remarkable peoples that inhabited 
the fabled gold-laden country of the Andes. 

The name "guinea pig" appears to be a misnomer of un- 
known origin, some authorities conjecturing that it is a 
corruption of guinea-pig; others, that it was derived from 
*;he association with the English coin, "guinea," for which 
it is said to have been sold in England during the sixteenth 
and seventeenth centuries; and still others that the word 
"guinea" merely signifies foreign. 

The cavy is a small quadruped, rarely weighing over 
three pounds, its normal weight being about two and a 
half pounds. It is stoutly, well built, with short, rounded 
ears: the tail, while conspicuous by its absence, is rudi- 
mentary. It has four front and three hind toes, imperfect 
collar bones, the incisor teeth short and the outer surface 
of the lower jaw marked by a distinct ridge. 

Being a herb ivorous animal, it feeds upon nearly all veg- 
etable substances, and while its requirements for water are 
small it seems to thrive better with a supply at hand at all 
times. Its never failing appetite prompts it to be always 
on the alert for its master and it manifests its pleasure in 
seeing him, as well as to indicate that it is awaiting another 
portion of food, by a succession of faint squeaks and grunts. 

In its wild state the cavy, while a fertile breeder, pro- 
duces but one or two young at birth, and then only once a 
year. The domesticated pig produces from two to five 
litters a year, with as many as seven in a single litter. The 
young are fully developed when born, eyes open, bodies 
covered with fur and of the same color as when full grown. 
While the young are not weaned until the third week, they 
commence eating after the first day of their existence. 



SEP 27 1915 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG, 



The cavy is a sing-ularly inoffensive and defenceless crea- 
ture, of a very excitable disposition, and lacks that intelli- 
ji-ence which usually characterizes domestic pets, although 
some have been trained by animal trainers for the stage. 
It is said to be used in the country of its nativity as food 
for human consumption, but the demand for cavy Hesh has 
never spread to the northern continent, nor to Europe. No 
use has yet been put to its fur. which, unlike most fur 
animals, it is constantly shedding. The cavy is, however, 
used extensively for the propagation and testing of anti- 
toxins and for other experimentations in laboratories. 
Beyond this, it is of no particular service to man and the 
statement that it may be used to drive off rats and mice 
is without foundation. As a pet for children, however, it is 
one of the best obtainable, being perfectly harmless. 

Because of its great fecundity and the ease with which it 
vields to experiment the fancier has taken a keen interest 
in this little creature and since the middle of the nineteenth 
century wonderful strides have been made in perfecting it to 
the standard which man thinks Nature should have adopted in 
its natural law of selection. From the vari-colored wild 
animal the patient fancier, aided by "Father Time" has 
produced a dozen distinct colors and combinations of the 
rarest hues, as well as the most freakish abnormalities, 
from Nature's standpoint, in its shape and length of coat. 
It has risen from its insignrficance and humble wandering 
life among acquatic plants in marshy districts, and the 
crags in the mountain sides of South America, to the dis- 
tinction of being groomed and petted by the aristocracy of 
the British Empire and other leaders of society through- 
out the civilized world. 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



Housing. 

The subject of hotisino- is one that requires considera1)le 
study if the fancier contemplates extensive breeding. Time 
is a great factor in every business. If the fancier is satis- 
fied with a few cavies, two or three shoe cases or soap 
boxes will answer the purpose. If, on the other hand, he 
has higher aspirations, he should build and arrange his 
hutches so as to minimize the amount of labor required in 
cleaning. Ideal hutches may be cheaply constructed of 
ordinary flooring, tongued and grooved; covered with half- 
inch wire mesh to keep out rats and mice, which not only 
cat the food, but devour the young. 

In building the hutches here shown, which can also l)e 
used for rabbits, the floors are made removable to facilitate 
cleaning. They slope toward the rear of the hutches — the 
slope lieing one inch in two feet (the outside width of the 
hutches). The floors themselves, however, are but twenty 
inches in depth, as the entire rear part of the hutches is 
equipped with a four-inch galvanized iron gutter, such as 
is used under the eaves of houses, which is covered with 
half-inch wire mesh. Cavies invariably seek the darkest 
part of the hutch to secrete their olral, and the above 
hutches are so constructed that the urine and droppings 
are precipitated through the wire mesh into the gutter, 
thereby keeping the floors dry at all times and preventing 
the cavies from lying on damp litter and avoiding conse- 
quent colds and other diseases. In cleaning the hutches 
all that is necessary is to scrape stray droppings into the 
gutter, remove the floor and gutter, which rest on the side 
strips supporting the floor, clean, and return to their 
respective places. It requires but thirty or forty minutes 



THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 




c 

X 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



to clean a dozen hutches constructed alono^ these lines. 

The old adag^e: "cleanliness is next to Godliness." is just 
as applicable to the successful raising- of cavies as to lon- 
gevity of life in the human race, for most of the fatal 
diseases contracted by cavies are due to tilth or impure 
food and water. 

Hutches should be roomy, yet free from draughts. 
Plenty of exercise not only aids digestion, but creates a 
bigger appetite, which encourages growth. If the hutches 
are constructed of the size illustrated, to wit: three feet 
long-, two feet deep and eighteen inches high, each one will 
accommodate one boar and three sows without crowding, 
and at the same time give the "restless cavy" an opportun- 
ity to keep moving most of the time, as cavies are more 
active when a few are kept together than when they are 
alone. They should be so placed as to receive the rays of 
the sun, for there is no better germicide than sunlight. 

A cavy can be bred at the age of two months, but early 
breeding stunts the growth of the sow and renders it un- 
suitable for exhibition purposes. Early breeding also 
results in the production of undersized youngsters. Size is 
a great factor, when the judge's eye falls upon his subject. 
Sows should not be bred before they are seven or eight 
months old. It is not wise to permit more than three sows 
to run with one boar, although many fanciers advocate as 
many as tive. The young are usually weaned the third 
week, at the end of which time the sexes should be sep- 
arated and each sex placed in a separate run for develop- 
ment. Males may be allowed to run together, as a rule, 
until four or tive months of age, without seriously molest- 
ing each other, but in so doing, the fancier runs the risk 
of having a few slit ears, which disqualifies a cavy in com- 
petition. It is well to give the sow a few weeks rest, after 
pigging, to regain her normal strength before breeding her 
again. This is particularly necessary where sows are per- 
mitted to raise large litters. A cavy has but two teats, and 
the drain on her vitality is great when compelled to rear a 
large family. 



THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 

Bleeding. 
Temal© Male 




LINK bkkkdim;. 

A good strain can I)est l)e ])er[)etuated an 1 inii'i' 'vkI liv ;n iniclli- 
gent system of line l-reeding. Study the chart. I'tr sme ; nd hegin 
v\ith strung, vigorous pigs, those that liave n )t l)een too closely l)rtd. 

Ilegin at the to >. Xote that the male is always represtnled by a 
solid line, the female l>y a dotted line. 

Kach circle represents the progeny, viz.: 

No. 1 mated to No. 2 jjroduces group No. .>. v\hich is oiu--lialt the 
hlf)od of sire and dam. 

.\ male from group No. 3 mated black to his own dam ( .\"o. 1) 
jiroduce groui> ^o. 4, which is three-cjuarters the l)l<;od of the- dam 
(\o. 1) and one-quarter the i)lood (f the sire (No. 2). 

'l"he fractions illustrate relationshij) between new groups and the 
original i^igs. 

I'ollow this plan on down and we have in No. 16 the new strain. 
?nd in No. 18 the strain of our original sire No. 2, thus giving us .5 
distinct strains, and by this system we may gv) on breeding iiidel.nitely. 

.Study the ( hart. 



THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



In order to attain the best results, line breeding- must be 
indulged in, and occasional inbreeding will do no harm, 
but care must be exercised not to inbreed to excess. Study 
the line breeding chart here illustrated. It will pay you. 
This may be overcome by introducing a new unrelated boar 
into the caviary when the stock appears to lose its vitality 
and quality. In purchasing a new stud boar explicit in- 
.structions relative to the prominent points desired should 
be given to the fancier from whom it is l)eing ordered, or 
years of effort may be wasted. 

Remember that strength of bone, color of eyes, mark- 
ing's, color and length of coat, are usually transmitted 
through the boar, while constitution, shape of body, or 
type, size, and quality of coat, through the sow. Of course 
this rule is open to exceptions, like all others when there is 
interference with the law of natural selection. It is not 
unusual for cavies sometimes to produce young with char- 
acteristics that do not appear in either parent, but which 
existed in some distant ancestor, and which lay dormant 
until the propitious moment for its reappearance. It is 
therefore unwise to mate two cavies, possessing the same 
faults — such as too light or too dark a coat, pointed faces, 
or badly shaped ears, etc. As stated by our English fan- 
cier-author, Mr. C. A. House, "In mating we want not only 
to pair two animals together, but they want to be so mated 
that the g^ood and bad points of each will blend into one — 
if not perfect — almost perfect whole. We weigh up care- 
fully all the little differences in shape, size, coat, color, etc.. 
and then pair the pets so as to get as many good points. 
and as few bad ones as possible." 

There are many reasons why this rule will not produce 
just what the fancier anticipates and desires, such as van- 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



ance in the ages of the hreeders. interior (|iiality in some 
of the points in an ancestor of one of the mates, or the 
prepotency of one or the other. Many a winner is pro- 
duced In' mating- an old sow possessed of good color. ct)at 
and shape with one of her sons which carries the good 
(pialities of the father, and the old hoar with his daughter: 
while even l)etter results are sometimes attained hy cross- 
ing lirother and sister. The continuance of such a practice 
for a prolonged period is. however, to be discouraged. 

()nly the best specimens should l)e used for breeding- 
purposes. They should likewise ])e in the best condition 
before mating. It is well to kill all culls — mismarked, ill- 
sliaped and deformed — at birth, so that the strength of the 
mother may be used entirely to develqp the best offspring-. 

Finally, purchase new stock only from reliable fanciers 
who have develoi)cd their strains by i^ersistent line breed- 
ing; who will guarantee strong-, healthy breeders, and who 
can produce the show catalogs to contirm their assertion 
that their stock won in competition with other fanciers, 
and not with their own stock. vSucIi stock will be of bene- 
fit in building- up a strain, and no other. 



10 THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA FIG. 



Feeding. 

The subject of fccdfn.u is one which is usually s^ovenicd 
l)y the experience and whim of each individual fancier. 
Aside from advisin<^ that only pure, clean food be sys- 
tematically stip|)lied to the cavies durint^" the various statics 
of their lives and condition, little can he said. 

The c:i\y is not particular about the variety of food of- 
fered, but it insists that whatever it be it must be clean. 
In the way of stdid foods: hay. oats, cracked corn, wheat, 
bread occasionally, and the many varieties of meals, ma}' be 
fed ; while in greens, they are \ ery fond of water cress, 
rl()\er and other grasses, lettuce, dandelion, chickery. plan- 
tain, parsle}', carrots, beets, and, in fact, almost any greens. 
.Some fanciers discourage feeding raw i)otatoes and cab- 
bage, as they have a tendency to cause diarrhoea. 

It will be found tc) be most economical, as well as j)ro- 
ducti\e of the best results, if only wholesome food be ofifered 
to cavies. This is particularly so in "forcing" the growth 
of }(^ung pigs. Regularit}' in the hours of feeding, as well 
as the (|uantity fed. also recpiire careful observance. The 
ci\y needs to be fed only twice a da3\ althougli some fan- 
ciers gi\'e an extra treat at noon time. A good schedule is 
to feed a bountiful sup])ly of hay and some oats and other 
grains, as well as a small handful of greens or roots for 
each i)ig. between six and eight o'clock in the morning. 
I)etween four and six o'clock in tlie evetiing, fresh water 
and some more hay and grain wmII carry them through tlie 
night. In summer time they should have water twice a day. 
In the winter uK^nths the water should be just warm 
enough to take ofif the chill, while in summer they deligr.t 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 1 1 



in drinking cool water. The pigs do not need a second in- 
vitation to partake of water in winter or summer when 
offered in this manner. I have experimented along the 
lines suggested by some fanciers — i. e., not giving any 
water except on extremely warm days, and my experience 
has been that the cavies which have had water before them 
at all times are in much better condition and give better 
results than those which do not receive any water at all or 
at rare intervals. 

Particular attention should be paid to sows in litter, be- 
cause toward the close of the gestatory period and while 
suckling their young they require more grasses, greens and 
roots than at other times. At these periods carrots and 
sprouted oats may be fed more liberally as they increase 
the supply of milk. Milk may also be offered at this time 
as both sows and young will welcome it and it will be found 
to give good results. 

English fanciers recommend a number of mashes and 
mixtures, but I have never found them necessary under 
the system of feeding I have adopted. Of course, I doubt 
not that the mashes are very nourishing and beneticial, 
l)ut considering the time and labor, I have not been able to 
reconcile myself to the belief that they are necessary. 

Remember that foul water, mouldy hay and oats, and 
frosted roots or overheated grasses will cause more dis- 
eases and deaths than anything else. 



12 THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



Diseases. 

Sunli.^ht is a .uerniicick' and that foul water and feed are 
the causes (^f many diseases. 

Diarrhoea is the cause of more deaths in the caviary 
than any other disease, and is mostly due to im])roper feed- 
ins^. Unless prompt measures are taken inmiediately after 
the disease is discovered, dru^s are of little avail. Some 
fanciers recommend from t'.fteen to twenty drops of 
castor oil or sweet oil; followed shortly after\\-ard with 
three or four drops of laudnum. \\ liile tliis trcc.i;menL 
is being- administered i' is i)est to remo\ e all food from the 
hutch for twenty-four hours, and thereafter lH\tiin feeding 
with a little hay and oats and fresh water. Do not feed 
greens for several days after the disease is checked. Sud- 
den changes from food v.-ith a low percentage of j/rotein 
and fats to food containing a high percentage often cause 
diarrhoea, such as changing from timothy to alfalfa hay; 
oats to soaked Canada or maple peas. etc. 

Colds manifest themselves in several ways: A dry 
cough; affections of the eyes, a wate^v-ldce substanc.^ 'un- 
ning therefrom; and pneumonia. These are most gen- 
erally caused by draughts or subjecting the cavies to sud- 
den changes of temperature. For the last named, there is 
little hope of effecting a cure, but for ordinary colds two 
drops of aconite in a teaspoonful of vv-ater or milk will 
often relieve the troul)le. For the eyes a solution of 
boracic acid composed of a teaspoonful to half a tuml)ler 
of water is effectix e. 

Bare Patches are often caused by lice nibbling at the 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 13 

coat, or tlu'v may l)c caused 1)}' oxer-licatcd blood. A 
pinch of powdered sulphur in their food and plenty of 
green food will ol)viate the troulile if caused i)y the latter. 
A paste composed of a little sulphur and sweet oil should 
be rubbed into the bare patches daily for several days. 
However, if lice are found to be the cause, after applying 
the sulphur and sweet oil paste, dust well w^ith a lice pow- 
der or wash with a weak solution of carbolic acid and 
water, sa}- half teaspoonful to two quarts. 

These diseases arc the most common and such as require 
prompt measures. 'Inhere are other diseases such as 
tuberculosis (going light), paralysis, etc., wdiich are rarely 
cured, and unless it is a ver}^ valuable animal time and 
trouble may be saved by destroying it. 



14 THE CAVY.--OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



Varieties and Standards. 

This subject has been sadly neglected by our authors. 
and is one that should, next to feeding, stand foremost in 
our mind's eye. Too many of us forget the IDExA.L, or the 
standard of perfection which we should follow as ou ' 
guide, and instead dote on some particular shade of color, 
shape or setting of ears, or "buffalo" shoulders, and forget 
the average of all the points for which we should strive. 

English. 

The structure of the English cavy is described by Mr. 
House as follows: "The English cavy must be cobby. Its 
head large and chubby, with a good Roman nose; the eyes 
should be bold, bright, and prominent, the neck short. 
with great depth of shoulder, the back broad and massive, 
with well-formed hindquarters; the ears should be well set 
on. and droop gracefully, not enough to be styled um- 
brellas, but just a nice, well-turned droop. Prick ears give 
a rat-like appearance to the head. The coat should in all 
varieties be short, perfectly smooth, and very soft and 
silky to the touch." 

In this variety we have, at present, six self, or solid 
colors: black, red, cream, white, chocolate, and blue. The 
last two colors are still in their infancy, although consid- 
erable progress has been made in perfecting the same. 

In the broken, or vari-colored, are the tortoise shell 
(black and red), tortoise shell and white (black, red and 
white), Dutch, Golden Agouti, Silver Agouti, Himalayan, 
and Brindle. A steady advance is also being- made in pro- 
ducing such combinations as agouti, red and white; choco- 
late, red and white; and cinnamon colored. These, when 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



15 



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1 11 tlie illustration we have the typical l^nglish Cavy, so ably ilrawn 
l)y Dreese. the artist, for Pet Stock World. 



16 THE CAVY.-CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



exentuall}' perfected, will create quite an interest as they 
are most difficult to produce. 

The BLACK cav}- should be of the intense blackness of 
the Raven, full of lustre, with a tine, sleek coat. It is an 
easy matter to obtain a good outer coat, but the deep black 
color should extend to the skin. It is frequently necessary 
to introduce wdiite or red into the l)lack cavy, which must 
always l)e through the sow. This will enrich the color, 
v\diile an agouti cross will be found to improve the silkiness 
of the coat. 

The RED ca\_\ is described b}- some 9s a "rich, bright 
orange," and l)y others as a "tomato red." The greatest 
care should Ije exercised to keep out the mahogau}^ color. 
Some fanciers introduce a cream sow- to the red stud boar 
when the red becomes too dark and pronounced. 

Like the bkick. it is well at times to cross a red boar with 
a tortoise and white sow^ to enrich the color, and with a 
golden agouti sow^ to improve the quality of the coat. 

The CREAM sh.ould be just as its name indicates. The 
Englishman calls it "Devonshire" cream. It should not be 
too dark, as many of the creams are too near an orange 
color, rather than cream. However, when cream comes 
too light, it may be well to introduce darker color by the 
use of a red sow. 

The WHITE should be snowy white, with wdiite ears 
and ])ink eyes. Being albinos they almost invariably breed 
true to cohjr, and when so bred they usually have very 
pretty ears. P.ut when crossed with a dark colored pig, 
the cars will have a dirty appearance. This should be 
avoided. 



THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 17 



The CHOCOLATE cavy should be the coh)r of a fresh 
cake of chocolate; uniformly colored over entire lK)dy, in- 
cluding- ears, feet and toe nails. The color should extend 
down the full length of the hair, right to tlie skin. 

The BLUE is not only the latest color ]M-ochi^ed in the 
self varieties, but the least perfected as well. The shades 
thus far presented are too slaty, and appear to be no more 
than faded black. When finally perfected this will l)e one 
of the most beautiful colors obtainable in cavies. 

The TORTOISE SHELL is a rarity in the United States, 
and in fact T learn that it is not as popular in England as 
the TORTOISE SHELL AND WHITE. In the former 
the colors should be red and black; while in the latter whit:e 
is added. There should be absolutely no brindling of 
colors, that is to say intermixing, and the i^atches should 
be as numerous and uniform as possiijle. The tortoise- 
shell and white may have a one, two or three colored factf. 
the latter, when obtained with a good white blaze, being 
the most attractive. 

The DUTCH and HniALAYAX should be marked 
similar to the rabbits of the same colors. The former has 
been bred for a longer period than the latter, hence has 
reached a higher state of perfection. Both are exceedingly 
difficult to produce, if one aims at perfection; and wh.en the 
specimens are anywhere near the "ideal," they are beauti- 
ful to behold. The "Ideal Dutch Cavy" illustrated herein 
gives an excellent idea as to the beauty of this little crea- 
ture if it could be perfectly produced. In the Himalayan, 
all ends should be of some solid color other than white. 
v/ImIc the rest of the body should be snowy wdiite. free 
from brindling. 



18 



THE CAVY.-CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 




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a 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



19 




-avy. Courtesy Doubleday, Page & Co. and J, Henri 
Wagner. 



20 THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



AGOUTI is the name applied to the variety whose color 
has been copied from the wild Agouti, or "'Cotia" in 
Portuguese, native of Brazil. The wild agouti and cavi- 
are not related, only the color of the former having at- 
tracted the inventive and imitative eye of the fancier. This 
variety made its hrst appearance in the Crystal Palace 
Show. London, in 1888. It is bred in two com])inations. 
golden and grey, or silver. The former should be of a 
rich golden brown, while the latter a silvery grey, both 
evenly ticked on top, sides, chest and feet, but void of 
ticking on belly. In the golden agouti the belly should be 
rich, deep red; while in the silver agouti a pearl grey color 
should be attained. 

The BRINDLE cavy is not popular, because it is not as 
beautiful as any of the self or broken colored varieties, and 
is probably the most difficult to breed. The brindling is 
not easily obtained and even the most ardent and patient 
fancier l)ecomes discouraged Ijefore he has half readied 
the goal. 

Peruvian. 

The Peruvian Cavy. as a variety, stands in a class by 
itself. While it doubtless originated in the same country 
as the English Cavy, it is the common belief that its out- 
ward characteristics were developed in France, and later 
improved by the English pioneer fanciers. Length of coa,t, 
head furnishing, and texture or silkiness of coat, are the 
principal points for which the Peruvian admirer strives. 
The importance of these three characteristics ma^- be ap- 
preciated when we consider that fifty-five points out of a 
possi1)lc hundred are allotted to them in the standard. The 



THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 21 



Peruvian is larger than tlie Englisli or the Al)y.ssinian ; 
while the head alone is proportionately not so large as in 
the other varieties. The colors produced in this variety 
are the same as in the other two. 

The Peruvian cannot withstand much dampness. l)ecause 
its coat appears to absorh moisture which endangers its 
iKN'ilth and consequent exhibition cpiality. It should l)e 
bred indoors under a normal, dry temperature. Xeither 
sawdust nor hay should be used for bedding, as botli woik 
into the hair and cause it to become tangled. Straw, cut 
in six-inch lengths, makes a good bedding m.aterial. When 
the hair reaches the length of, say, eight inches, it should 
be put U]) in "crimpers" such as the women use in their 
hair, or plaited, to prevent spoiling the coat. The hair 
may be taken down once a week, ])rushed well, and i)ut 
up again. 

While l)reeding:, the coats should l)e clipped as the huig 
hair not only annoys the breeders and l)(.c > aes matted. l)ut 
interferes w'ith the various duties they ha\e to perform. 

Many fanciers of the patient and painstaking t\i)e use 
h.air tonics and restorers to increase the fineness and silK'- 
iness of coat, and also feed especially for length of the 
coat: boiled rice and rice puddings ])eing used in the latter 
instance. 

Abyssinian. 
The A])yssinian, like the I'erux ian, did not derive its 
name by an\- geographical association and und()ul)ledl\' 
emanated from the same source as all other ca\ies. It 
h.as been steadily improved both in harshness of coat and 
the numl^er of rosettes, which are its principal chara'-- 
teristics. The more numerous the rosettes the better; as 
r^anv as fifteen, and rarelv more, having been produced 



22 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 




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c 






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IHE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 23 



on a sins^le cavy. The hair of the x\byssinian should be 
])rushed toward the head, and each rosette carefully shaped 
up with a tooth-brush. The least attention to the coat of 
this variety will demonstrate the best results, as constant 
grooming will impair the harshness of the coat. It is 
well to maintain outdoor hutches for this variety, provided 
tliey are free from damp and draught, as the cold is con- 
flucive to the production of harshness in the coat. 

The Abyssinian yields to color-breeding with equal 
readiness as the English and Peruvian, and the same rules 
for improving the quality of the coat and color apply to 
this variety as have been explained for the other two. 
vSixty points out of a hundred are de\oted to ro^^^ttes, co'it. 
and head furnishing, while only 20 points are allowed for 
size and shape. The attention to coat should, therefore, be 
paramount. As the quality of the coat is usually obtained 
through the sow, it is preferable to use only harsh-coated 
sows as breeders; while the boar should be well covered 
with rosettes, possessed of good color and size. The 
"weeding out" process may be begun at the birth of the 
youngsters, as it is easy to determine when the young are 
but a few days old which are best in rosettes and color, 
and the weaklings and mismarked cavies killed. 

In feeding Abyssinians rice puddings, milk, and meal 
mashes should be a rarity and only given as conditioners; 
the principal diet consisting of hay, corn, and a few oats 
and greens. 



24 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



Exhibiting. 

Exhibiting is the result of the efforts of the fancier in 
following the advice of his older brethren; the rules laid 
down for the housing, breeding, and feeding of his stock; 
and his own practical experience. It is the zenith of his 
ambitions and the telltale of his success or failure. Tem- 
porary misfortune on the show bench should not dis- 




Cream Abyssinian Cavy. Courlesy T. A. Marlin, Jr., 

courage the novice, for it may he merely his inalAility to 
judge his own stock, in making his various matings, or lack 
of experience in any one of the several departments of 
cavydom that causes him to be beaten. Success is bound 
to come to the observing breeder, coupled with common 
sense methods. The ambitious fancier will visit the shows 
and acquaint himself, by kindly inquiry of the judges and 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



25 




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26 THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



well informed veterans, wherein his sh(3rtcomings are 
manifest. He will return to his little familj- of quadrupeds 
and apply the knowledge thus conveyed to him, and when 
the next season returns, to his utter amazement, the laurels 
find their way to this patient, persevering lover of industry. 

His success should not tempt him to over-exhibit or to 
greedily seek to "corner" all the prizes on his severaj 
varieties, for after a few shows his stock will succumb to 
the strain of travel, rough handling, close and foul con- 
linement. unsystematic feeding, and his season is closed. 
On the other hand, he should plan his exhibits so that 
sufficient time elapses between events to allow the show 
specimens to recuperate so that when their turn again 
arrives they may be able to meet the jealous pride of some 
fellow animal. 

The cautious fancier will provide himself with a good 
conditioning mixture, and feed only the most appetizing 
foods at these times, both before and after each show. 
I'he brush and silk or chamois skin will here demonstrate 
its usefulness, for the critical eye of the judge manifests his 
true sport by showing his preference for the well-groomed 
specimen. Many fanciers even supplement the brush and 
silk with a good rub with a whisp of hay and later with 
the hand, which brings the gloss to the surface. In fact 
there are some who feed small quantities of flax seed meal 
which renders the hair oily and facilitates the production 
of the shiny coat. 

In the case of white cavies, washing a few days before 
a show might not be amiss. 

When shipping cavies to distant cities for exhibition 
purposes, do not use any old store box that may be avail- 
able. Such boxes are not only irritating to the show at- 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 27 



tendants and may subject the cavies to careless treatment 
as a consequence, hut are su1)ject to improper handling hy 
railroad employes. A little time and judgment may he well 
spent in making a case out of light wood, with a compart- 
ment for each specimen, good ventilation, and carrying 
handles. Each compartment should have a bountiful 
supply of hay before shipping, and in addition a carrot or 
two. and a piece of stale bread. Also see that the exhibits 
are shipped in good time so that all time and trouble in 
their rearing and preparation may not be wasted by their 
late arrival and consequent elimination from competition. 



28 THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 



Conclusion. 

I have not mentioned the various standards which are 
provided by the fancy because they are subject to change, 
and because the true fancier will keep in constant touch 
with them by joining one or more of the pet stock asso- 
ciations. At the present time we have, in this country. 
three general associations: The American Fur Fanciers' 
Association, the National Pet Stock Association, and the 
Pacific Pet Stock Association. 

The Englishman is accredited with the distinction of 
elevating the cavy from its wild state to the show bench. 
and certainly has he, as a pioneer, surpassed all other 
nationalities in providing, in the development of this little 
creature, a lucrative pastime for the weary and fatigued 
business, professional and workingman, and by persistent 
and painstaking effort maintained his supremacy in the per- 
fection of exhibition stock. That most of the interest 
manifested in the fancy in England is due to the activities 
of Fur and Feather, published in Idle. Bradford, is unques- 
tioned, for without a leader nothing can withstand the 
frailty of human resolutions. Its able editor. Mr. C. A. 
House, was not only one of the pioneer cavy fanciers, brit 
has made the pet stock fancy his life work; having been a 
constant admirer of pets during the thirty years which 
have elapsed since his first exhibit with the National Cavy 
Club of England, at Pulborough in 1888. 

America is fast coming to the front, however, and ere 
long it is hoped that our own results will be felt in the 
greatest of all shows — The Crystal Palace. Distance and 
fatiguing travel have been the great barriers, but the ranid 
strides which have been made during recent years in navi- 



THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 29 



gation on sea and in air warrant the prediction tliat soon 
American fanciers will experience less risk in competing 
with our English brethren. This goal is the height of the 
American fanciers' ambition, and when it will have been 
reached there need be no anxiety that America cannot hold 
its supremacy in the pet stock world as it has in many 
other sports which it has wrung from the old world. 



J. Henri Wagfner 

Importer and Breeder of 

FANGY RABBITS 

Eight years of practical experiment with pigeons, rab- 
bits and cavies in Mendel's theories on the laws of heredity 
have equipped me for properly breeding pet stock for type, 
quality of hair, station and those other elements which con- 
stitute the real exhibition and utility animal. My founda- 
tion stock was imported from England's best strains, which, 
by proper line breeding has produced a strain of wonderful 
winning quality. 

English, Anpra, Beigian and Dutch 
a Specialty 

Usually a few youngsters on hand for sale at prices con- 
sistent with careful breeding. REMEMBER, I kill all 
culls at birth, using the strength of the mother only to rear 
healthy and vigorous animals. 

1909 N. Capitol St. 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 



THE ENGLISH JOURNAL 

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RABBITS, GATS AND CAVIES 

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and judges in England, 

It gives the most instructive articles, the brightest and 
most up-to-date news, and the most reHable advice. 

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